Race day clothing

Jon Allen

Now this may seem like a really random/newbie question regarding race day clothing but do any of you out there wear bike kit for the bike leg of an IM and then change into run kit/tri kit for the run? My concern is that my new EN team kit has only just arrived and its 16 days until race day so I'm not really going to get any miles in it. Any advice/help greatly received. :-)

ezellrh

Jon, a couple of thoughts for you:  




1. For IM distance racing, I am more comfortable changing after the bike into running shorts / singlet. I'm not racing for a podium or KQ, so take it for what its worth. That being said, I can get in and out of T2 with a complete change in three-four minutes.  




2. One of the major pro's from wearing EN kit the whole way through (besides the time savings) is that you will get incredible support / mojo from other EN folk (and their supporters) that see the EN colors. Don't discount the positive impact from that on your mentality. 




If you only concern is the 'suitability' of the kit, take it out for a spin (pun intended) before race day. See how it feels.  




Good luck with your race

*edit - after I posted this, I realized my picture was of me finishing Louisville in an EN top... so I guess I don't always follow my own advice

Jon Allen

Thanks for the advice Roy, my thoughts at the moment are to swim then put on my normal cycle kit in T1 (I work in a bike shop so also giving us a big "here I am too" I guess in our shop kit) then change into my new EN race kit in T2 for the run(!) That way both EN and our shop get some time on the course.

Al Truscott

Posted By Jon Allen on 07 May 2015 12:49 AM


...bike kit for the bike leg of an IM and then change into run kit/tri kit for the run? ...

Some people find the extra thickness and width of the padding in regular bike shorts/bibs to be uncomfortable when riding in the aero position for 5-6 hours, especially chafing on the inner thighs. If you've been using this while training on your TT bike without problems, and don;t mind the extra time in transition, then go with what you're comfortable with. If you have been using thinner chamois while training, be aware of this difference, and the need to lower your saddle several mm to account for the thicker pad.

Dino Sarti

Probably not the answer to your question, but 100% of the pros and likely 100% of the pointy end in all AGs don't change anything and race the whole day in either 1 piece or two piece tri-gear.

If it's a marketing thing, I get it.

Like most, I wear an EN top and shorts under my my sweats when I leave for the race in the AM and leave them on until I shower after the race.

Mark Hickman

I'm not a point end guy, and not sure I could do 112 without my bibs...think the extra 60-120 seconds combined in t1/t2 putting on and removing is made up by being able to ride comfortably. I wear the EN tri top the whole way; coming into t2 its just a matter of pulling the bib straps out of the sleeves and arms while on the run, then throwing on tri shorts so I look cool the rest of the way:o)

Paul Hough

What Dino said, not to mention that I despise wearing diapers (I mean bike shorts) on the tri bike. I've done all of my IMs in either a 1 piece or 2 piece tri suit without issue.